Adelheid 20: Vesta (Patreon)

So this is the last chapter of Volume 1. First of all, I'd like to read it thank everyone who has been keeping up till this point. I understand this is not the usual webserials with action starters. If you like it enough, please leave a review or rating on amazon of whichever country site you use, no purchases needed.

Anyways, I already wrote 2 chapters for volume two, but I want to wait until I have like four or five before posting. Of course, they are first draft versions, so please excuse the mistakes. 

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When Adelheid regained consciousness, her eyes snapped open to see blackness. Her breath hitched, and her hands shot towards her eyes… only to feel something soft?

An angry hoot was heard as the light pierced her eyes, causing her to shut them once more.

"Princess! Are you alright, how do you feel?"

A soothing voice entered Adelheid's ears. Adelheid blinked to get to adjust to the light and scanned her surroundings. She was in her room, in the palace, safe.

Turning towards the voice, Adelheid saw someone she had not seen in years. "Healer Elune?"

"That's correct, Your Highness." Elune gave a comforting smile. "How do you feel?"

Adelheid blinked again, and then the memories came rushing back, and she bolted upright. Her hands touched her arms, her chest, her waist, and her face. Finally, she looked at her palm, the one that shot out the blood-red magic.

She was broken out of her thoughts as something light landed on her thigh. Looking down, she saw that little owl that flew towards her moments before she was rescued. "You are?"

The owl staggered back as if in shock. It turned its butt towards her and lifted its tail feathers.

"Don't you recognize it? I heard he's the creature hatched out from Your Highness's egg," Elune said.

Adelheid turned towards the middle-aged woman and then back at the owl. "Come here."

The owl hooted and scooted away.

"It's been at your side for over a week, never leaving even once," Elune said.

Adelheid's eyes widened. "I have been unconscious for a week?!"

"Yes," Elune said. "Now, please excuse me."

Adelheid stayed still as a familiar warmth entered her body from the healer's hand. All the while, Adelheid continued to observe the little owl, or carbuncle as it was.

After a moment, Elune finished the diagnostic. "It's simply a miracle."

"What is?" Adelheid asked.

"Your Highness's body. Having survived in the wilderness for nearly a week, your body should be malnourished and suffering from the cold. But aside from some fatigue, Your Highness is perfectly healthy. It's simply a miracle."

Adelheid's eyes flashed as she recalled that specific event.

"Of course, the healers had already cast healing magic on Your Highness's body, but it's still surprising."

Adelheid nodded. Elune excused herself and left Adelheid alone with an older maid that she didn't recognize.

"Where's Matilda, Sofia, and Herja?" Adelheid asked.

The maid curtsied. "Replying to Your Highness. Miss Matilda and Miss Herja are currently in the training grounds, and Miss Sofia is in the study. We've already sent someone to notify them of Your Highness's awakening."

Adelheid nodded. Moments later, Elune returned with a bowl in hand that carried a familiar smell. Adelheid sighed and reached for the bowl. After taking the first sip, she frowned.

"Has the recipe been changed?" Adelheid asked.

"Not to my knowledge," Elune said. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing," Adelheid said and continued drinking.

She felt something brush against her arm and looked down to see the carbuncle staring at her, or rather, the bowl in hand. "You want some?"

The owl hooted.

"Go ahead," Adelheid said and lowered the bowl, a hidden smile upon her face.

The owl eagerly dipped its beak into the tonic. All seemed well, but the next moment, it sputtered and recoiled, flappings its wing as if it had been poisoned.She laughed. It was not a chuckle and definitely not a giggle, because she didn't giggle. It was genuine laughter.

After asking Healer Elune to bring her a second bowl, Adelheid finished her medicine. While she waited for her maids to arrive, the older maid present brought her up to speed on what happened during her absence.

Viscount Schmid was tried as the main culprit responsible for the event. Along with the viscount, a few business merchants were executed for smuggling illegal contrabands that gave the viscount the tools to commit the crime. Adelheid asked for more information, but the maid only knew the official announcement.

While Adelheid was playing with the carbuncle, Matilda burst into the room and swung her arms around her.

"Thank the gods you're okay!"

Sofia didn't chastise the flaxen-haired maid for once. She was too busy sending worry-filled looks towards Adelheid. Herja was much the same, but there was a sense of relief that could not be hidden.

"I heard you were the first to discover the egg's hatching," Adelheid said. She paused for a moment. "Thank you. Otherwise, I might have died."

"It's nothing. The carbuncle deserves more praise." As if to emphasize Herja's words, the owl perched atop the cat beastkin's head and puffed its chest.

"Be that as it may, your contribution cannot be overlooked," Adelheid said. "Do you desire anything?"

Herja opened her mouth, but no words came out. She curtsied. "It was only my duty as Your Highness's maid."

"Even if you were only doing your duty, a merit is a merit. Speak, what do you desire?"

"Please give me some time to think," Herja said.

Adelheid nodded.

For the next week and a half, Adelheid was confined to her room, much like when she first awakened. Healers and doctors constantly exited her room. At the same time, piles upon piles of documents were sent in and out of the princess's room.

What made Adelheid angry was that numerous businesses interfered with the Ambrosia Firm during her absence. Were it not for Heinrich and Sofia's efforts, it would be hard to say how much of the original business would be left. Adelheid silently marked down the names.

Still, the matter that someone from the Gold Firm had a hand in her disappearance needed to be addressed. She would leave it for Heinrich to deal with.

That was only the start. Adelheid found herself increasing her aura and swordsmanship training when she wasn't pouring over magic tomes. Even though her wand had been broken, knowing more spells would have undoubtedly been helpful. Speaking of which, 'I should get a spell ring.'

"Here you go, Your Highness." Matilda walked into Adelheid's study with the latest batch of Methu Honey and set them onto the desk. Right atop the document Adelheid was reading. "What are you doing with them?"

Adelheid rubbed her eyes with her thumb and forefinger. "It is a gift for Sir Griselda."

"A gift, I'll send it!" Matilda said.

"Don't claim credit for Her Highness's gift," Sofia said.

"W-w-what? That wasn't my plan!" Matilda said.

Adelheid tapped the desk. "I can give you ten bottles."

"Really?"

"Yes, but first, answer my question," Adelheid said. "Why do you want to give more to the knight captain? Are the imperial-grade honey not enough?"

"It's only one hour a month. I need to train more if I want to become stronger faster," Matilda said.

"You are already very strong, much more than people your age. Why do you feel the need to rush yourself?" Adelheid asked.

"Because I'm not strong. I'm your maid, but I couldn't protect you!"

Adelheid stifled a chuckle. "Matilda, I think you are confusing the duties of a maid with a knight. You do not need to protect me like a maid. But I appreciate the thought."

"No, Your Highness," Matilda said. Her voice took on a low tone, and her amber eyes gleamed like a drawn sword. "I already made a promise to myself that I would become Your Highness's knight. It is my duty to protect Your Highness."

Adelheid placed the bottle of honey back onto the desk. "Do you know what you are saying? Becoming an imperial's personal knight means putting my life above your own. If I ask you to die, you will be obligated to slit your throat with your own sword. Can you do that?"

"Yes!"

"Do not be so quick to answer." Adelheid shook her head. "When I pass my rite-of-passage, I'll ask you again. Right now, you are only fourteen. There are many things you have yet to experience. Perhaps, you will change your mind later."

Matilda observed Adelheid's face. "Your Highness, aren't you younger than me?"

Adelheid stilled. Yes, she was two years younger than Matilda. She had almost forgotten this fact. "I am a bit different. Anyways, I will give you the Methu Honey in a week. Until then, help me."

"Why can't I give them to Sir Griselda now?" Matilda asked.

Adelheid glanced at the aspiring knight's scarred and calloused hands before looking away. "I still need to catalog them. I have to make sure that taking away so much Methu Honey will not hurt the future of the Ambrosia Firm."

"Awww, all right," Matilda said. "Ah!"

Adelheid became alert, ready to react at the slightest hint of danger. "What's wrong?"

"Your Highness's familiar! He's opened a bottle!"

Adelheid looked down where she had placed the bottle. The carbuncle had opened the bottle and was merrily pecking the contents without her noticing. She reached to grab the bottle but stopped midway.

She sighed and stroked its charcoal-colored feathers. "What should I do with you?"

"Princess, what's his name?" Matilda asked.

"Name?" Adelheid said. She looked at the owl-shaped carbuncle, who had stopped eating the honey. Now, it was looking at her with puppy-dog eyes. Adelheid chuckled. 'You remind me a lot of Minerva, so I'll name you…' “Vesta."

The carbuncle hooted as if testing the name. Then it hooted two more times before jumping up and down while flapping its wings, hooting all the while.

"I think Vesta likes his new name," Matilda said.

"I agree."

-line break-

Adelheid stood at the training ground where her teacher, Eric Redland, had recognized her as a second circle mage, but this time only Herja was with her. The cat beastkin was staring at the perimeter, leaving Adelheid to her own devices.

In Adelheid's hand was her new wand. Using her own resources and connection, she had purchased the same wood she used for her previous wand, and since the ichor slime's magic stone wasn't damaged, she just used it.

Unlike her previous wand, with Adelheid's greater mastery and expertise, her wand could be said to be completely different. Not just in terms of appearance but in functionality. If wands were to be compared to a computer, then the hardware and software were upgraded to a higher level.

Adelheid pointed the wand at the wooden targets across from and began the incantation.

"Allfather of Life, the Blood that flows within this vessel of mine, Blood Origin, I command. You are the lord of blood, the progenitor of evolution that birthed even the divine, a rebel has arisen. You are the Beginning and shall know no End, annihilate your rebellious subject.”

"Blut Atgeir!"

Nothing, no matter how many times Adelheid chanted or moved her mana, there was no reaction. Not even a sliver of a magic circle appeared.

Adelheid returned the wand to its holster, a leather one that was lined with light metal in the interior. Then she raised her hand, pointed at the wooden target, and attempted the spell.

Still nothing.

Adelheid glanced at her palm, and a moment of hesitation pierced the center of her palm with a small knife that she habitually kept on her body since the hunt. The blood slid off her palm, becoming a perfect pearl of blood before splattering onto the ground.

"Oh blood, oh origin of life, head my orders. My foes are your foes, for we are one. I, the Blood Origin, command you, Essence of Life, exterminate my foe and shatter its life!"

"Blut Atgeir!"

Still nothing, but Adelheid felt her mana naturally shifted towards her palm unlike before. 'Blood, blood is the key.'

Before Adelheid could analyze anymore, Herja already ran towards her with a towel and some bandages. "Your Highness, are you alright?!"

"I'm fine," Adelheid said as she took the blanket and wiped her bloodied hand. Once the blood was wiped off, her palm revealed perfect skin with no hint of injury.

Line break

At another training ground, Matilda, in her training uniform with some metal armor guarding her vitals, raised her sword and rushed forward. A swing later, Matilda found herself on her back.

"Again?" Griselda asked as she held her mana sword's tip against Matilda's throat.

Matilda just laid there unmoving. Her sword was lying a few melers away out of her hand, but she did not move to reclaim it. "Sir Griselda, am I very weak?"

"Yes."

"Were you once weak like me?"

"I can't remember," Griselda said.

"Then how can I become like you?" Matilda asked, her eyes staring at the sky.

The golden knight lowered her mana sword and stayed silent for a long moment. "You don't want to become like me."

Matilda turned her head towards her mentor. "What do you mean?"

"Why do you want to become strong?" Griselda asked, tilting her head and looking at the sitting girl through her helm's slit.

"There's someone I want to protect, but I failed." Matilda curled her knees and hugged them. "Sir Olga said I was very strong and would only become stronger. I thought so, too, until I met the behemoth. It didn't even look at me. I was probably like an ant to it. Do you know how I felt when I could only stand there and watch as the princess almost died?!"

"That must be nice, to want to grow stronger to protect something," Griselda said as she allowed the mana sword in hand to disappear.

"Huh," Matilda said. "Doesn't Sir Griselda have anything to protect?"

"...no."

"Really? My father said that to become a knight means you have something to protect. Why did you become a knight?"

"I was simply told to become a knight." Griselda turned and walked a melers away before turning around and forming another mana sword. "Pick up your sword. Continue."

"Huh! Oh, right!" The aspiring knight quickly jumped to her feet and rushed towards her sword. After grabbing it, she fell into a stance and faced the knight captain of Imperial Guards once more. Her gaze sharpened as she waited for the golden knight to attack.

"Matilda," Griselda suddenly called out.

"Huh? Uh, yes!"

"You don't want to become like me, but I can tell you that if you keep fighting, you will grow stronger. As for whether you will become strong enough to protect what you want, I do not know."

A smile blossomed upon Matilda's face. "Thank you, Miss Griselda."

"Don't thank me. Remember to keep bringing me Methu Honey, or my lessons will stop."

"Roger!"

"Now, prepare yourself." With that, Griselda appeared in front of the young maid, sword raised high.

-line break

Inside Adelheid's study, Sofia sat at her desk with a quill in hand, surrounded by piles of documents. The door opened, revealing Leopold carrying in a stack of paper reaching his chest.

With a defeated expression, Sofia covered her face with her hands.

"For you," Leopold said, handing a letter to Sofia after placing the documents onto the table.

"For me?" Sofia took the letter and looked at the familiar crest and handwriting. Her hands trembled for a slight moment before thanking Leopold.

After making sure she was alone, Sofia sliced open the envelope and took the contents out. Unfolding the actual letter, the maid slowly read the contents. And then reread them again. Once she was done, she placed it over a candle and watched as the paper slowly burned to ashes.

Taking out a blank sheet of paper, Sofia dipped her pen into the ink and began to write her response.

Dear Father...

-line break-

Sitting inside his secret chambers, Alexander smashed the contents on his desk. Fire burned in his eyes as he gnashed his teeth together. After having smashed anything within reach, the fifth prince closed his eyes heavily breathed in and out.

When his eyes opened again, there was none of the previous fire. Instead, it resembled a calm lake with no wind or waves. He grabbed the sole object on his desk that he hadn't smashed, a white mask with a teardrop under one eye.

Alexander's vision immediately shifted after placing the mask on. What was reflected was not his secret chambers but a small table surrounded by endless darkness. Five of the seven chairs were filled, but not by human figures.

They were shadowy beings with no features. form, or even limbs. The one thing all five beings had was that they had a mask over the location where their face was.

"You're late," the figure with a red and gold mask with an expeditious expression, Vidar, said.

"I had to clean up because someone revealed their tail," Alexander said.

"Oooh, Little Modi is mad," a figure with a mask full of crisscrossing scars, Kartikeya, said.

"It's not surprising. The movement you made this time was too large, Ringmaster." The speaker was a figure wearing the mask that had a single large eye, Balor.

"What is done is done. Make sure that you clean up the loose ends," Vidar said.

Alexander clenched his fist. "Before that, shouldn't you compensate me?"

Vidar's mask shifted from left and right, looking at the other people present. One wore a gray mask resembling a wrinkly old man, another wore a silver mask resembling an otherworldly beautiful man, and the last one wore a pristine white mask with a merciful expression. "Is there anyone else who seconds this proposal?"

None of them spoke.

"Since no one seconded Mod's proposal, we shall move onto the main objective," Vidar said.

"Hehe, Modi, you are still too naive. Did you really think that everyone here are companions like in those storybooks trying to overthrow the evil kingdom?" Kartikeya asked.

"Kartikeya, that is enough," Vidar said.

Kartikeya's figure made a shrugging motion. "Whatever you say."

Alexander felt as if the fire he had been suppressing was about to explode. He hated Kartikeya, but he hated Vidar even more for his fake generosity.

"Now, let us talk about the method of eliminating the seventh princess of the Vuldar Empire," Vidar started.

At this moment, Chamuel spoke up. "Do we really need to kill her? It seems like we are wasting resources on unnecessary action."

"We don't have to waste resources," Vanin said. "We just have to direct the right people to her."

"What do you mean?" Vidar asked.

"The Principality of Alvarius," Vanin turned towards Kartikeya. "...or the Beast Kingdom."

"Why are you looking at me?"

Vanin turned away. "No reason."

"Killing the seventh princess won't be easy, especially after the first incident. The more we focus on her, the more the Vuldar Empire will defend her," Chamuel said.

"What? Do you want to make her your wife or something?" Kartikeya said.

Chamuel snapped his eyes towards the mask filled with scars. "Please mind your manners. I am simply advising that it is better to focus the organization's resources elsewhere."

"Since we have a disagreement, let us have a vote," Vidar said. "All those who support the elimination of the seventh princess, say aye."

The first to say "aye" was Kartikeya. The second was Vanin, followed by Balor and Vidar. Both Alexander and Vili abstained from voting. Of the seven, only Chamuel voted against killing the seventh princess.

"The decision is final. The Masked Troupe's objective will be to eliminate the seventh princess," Vidar said. "That said, Chamuel does have a point. Are there any suggestions?"

"Don't you know the Vuldar Imperial Family the best? Tell us something useful, newbie." Alexander's nails dug into his palm, drawing blood at Kartikeya's mockery.

However, he felt the eyes of nearly every member of the Masked Troupe and could only relent. "From what I know, the seventh princess should be taking her rite-of-passage in two or three years. She will have to leave the capital where she will be at her weakest."

"Then it is settled. We shall strike during the seventh princess's rite-of-passage. Dismissed." With that, Vidar's shadowy projection disappeared from the space, followed by the others.